Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan was sworn in for a 3rd time period as president on Saturday, promising to serve “impartially” after profitable a historic runoff election to increase his two-decade rule.
Erdogan known as for unity and the anger and resentment of the marketing campaign to be put aside as he spoke throughout a lavish ceremony at his presidential palace within the capital Ankara attended by dozens of world leaders.
Turkey’s transformative however divisive chief gained the May 28 runoff in opposition to a robust opposition coalition, regardless of an financial disaster and anger over the response to a February earthquake that killed greater than 50,000 individuals.
Erdogan gained 52.18 p.c of the vote whereas his secular rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu scored 47.82 p.c, official outcomes present.
“As president, I swear upon my honour and integrity, before the great Turkish nation… to work with all my power to protect the existence and independence of the state… and to fulfil my duty impartially,” Erdogan mentioned in parliament after a ceremony outdoors the constructing the place he saluted troopers below pouring rain.
Supporters in parliament gave Erdogan a minute-long standing ovation after his swearing in, whereas some opposition lawmakers refused to face up.
In his oath, Erdogan additionally promised to not deviate from the rule of regulation and the secular ideas of the republic based by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk 100 years in the past.
Turkey’s longest-serving chief, who has survived mass protests, a corruption scandal and a failed coup try since he got here to energy in 2003, now faces vital fast challenges in his third time period, together with the slowing economic system and tensions with the West.
“From a geopolitical point of view, the election will reinforce Turkey’s recent pursuit of an independent foreign policy,” mentioned Matt Gertken, chief geopolitical strategist at BCA Research.
“This policy aims to extract maximum economic and strategic benefits from eastern and autocratic states while still preventing a permanent rupture in relations with western democracies,” he mentioned.
“Tensions with the West will likely increase again,” Gertken added.
‘Let’s make peace’
Erdogan, standing subsequent to his spouse Emine, promised to embrace all segments of society through the ceremony at his palace after visiting Ataturk’s mausoleum.
“We will embrace all 85 million people, regardless of their political views, origins, creeds or sects,” he mentioned, hoping that his enchantment can be reciprocated additionally by his opponents.
“Turkey needs unity and solidarity more than ever,” he mentioned.
The polarisation in society has deepened below the rule of Erdogan — known as “Reis” by his supporters (“the chief”).
“We want all opposition segments, including journalists, writers, civil society, artists and politicians, to reconcile with the national will,” he mentioned.
“If there is resentment, if hearts are broken, let’s find a way to make peace.”
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Iran’s vp Mohammad Mokhber, Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the speaker of the decrease home of Russia’s parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, had been among the many international friends on the ceremony.
In the newest signal of a thaw between the 2 arch foes, Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was additionally current.
Biting economic system
Addressing the nation’s financial troubles will likely be Erdogan’s first precedence, with inflation working at 43.70 p.c, partly because of his unorthodox coverage of reducing rates of interest to stimulate progress.
The president is because of unveil his new cupboard late on Saturday, with media speculating that former finance minister Mehmet Simsek, a reassuring determine with worldwide stature, might return.
A former Merrill Lynch economist, Simsek is thought to oppose Erdogan’s unconventional insurance policies.
He served as finance minister between 2009 and 2015 and deputy prime minister in command of the economic system till 2018, earlier than stepping down forward of a sequence of lira crashes that yr.
“Erdogan’s government looks like it will pursue an orthodox stabilisation programme,” mentioned Alp Erinc Yeldan, professor of economics at Istanbul’s Kadir Has University.
“What we see now is that the news about Mehmet Simsek and his team is greeted with enthusiasm by the markets,” he instructed AFP.
Turkey’s new members of parliament had been sworn in on Friday in its first session after the May 14 election, with Erdogan’s alliance holding a majority within the 600-seat home.
NATO allies are anxiously ready for Ankara to green-light Sweden’s drive to hitch the US-led defence alliance, earlier than a summit in July.
Erdogan has delayed approving the appliance, accusing Stockholm of sheltering “terrorists” from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) which is listed as a terror group by Ankara and its Western allies.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg and Sweden’s former prime minister Carl Bildt, who attended the ceremony at Erdogan’s palace, are anticipated to press him to drop his opposition to Stockholm’s bid. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
